Chapter 074: The Invasion of Demonic Energy

Tang Mubai suddenly understood and interjected, “No wonder I heard the cry of a baby in this desolate wilderness. So it was a ‘Dollbird’ luring its prey!”

“Uh…” Yang Kai blinked and scratched his head awkwardly. “Captain, are you saying the ‘Dollbird’ outside is making those cries on purpose?”

“Of course,” Lin Huafeng replied. “‘Dollbirds’ are far from ordinary birds. They’re ferocious beasts—avian predators. Their cries aren’t idle noises; they use them to attract other animals for an easy catch!”

“To put it plainly, it’s an innate ability of this kind of beast.”

Relieved, Tang Mubai glanced at Yang Kai with a smile. “The information about ‘Dollbirds’ was made public and officially recorded years ago. You’re only learning about it now?”

“Yes, only now,” Yang Kai admitted without embarrassment, sighing. “I never had time to keep up with new discoveries about ferocious beasts or giant insects. Earning a living and training were more urgent! Besides, I’d occasionally tinker with old machines in secret. Unless something major happened out there, I’d hardly know about it.”

“That won’t do,” Lin Huafeng chuckled. “Ordinary people can afford to ignore news about non-human life, but as a professional martial artist, you can’t. Even without leaving the domain, you should always be aware of the latest developments.”

“Uncle Lin is right,” Tang Mubai added seriously. “Even if you aren’t interested in martial arts and just like fiddling with electronics, if you ignore new information, you might miss out when a new material appears! The alloys we have now are useful but far from perfect. If something better for vehicle modification comes along and you don’t know about it, you’ll miss your chance.”

“That… makes sense,” Yang Kai replied with an embarrassed laugh.

His earlier fear was due to ignorance of the situation outside. Now that he knew it was just a ‘Dollbird’ luring prey, the anxiety vanished.

Keeping up to date with new developments was indeed important. He’d lacked time before, but now he had plenty. If he could earn some money from this expedition, he planned to finally pursue his long-held dream.

...

Gathered around the “stove,” they talked deep into the night.

When it grew late, Lin Huafeng assigned the night watch. Some went to sleep in the vehicles, others meditated outside to cultivate.

Tang Mubai also began circulating the Golden Mist Technique, absorbing the world’s energy from the air to refine his vital force.

Even without his vitality being replenished, occasionally practicing the Golden Mist Technique was worthwhile—especially since he’d discovered the energy outside the domain wall was more than half again as dense as inside.

If the energy index in Redleaf City was 1, then inside and outside the “Safe Bastion” it was 2.5.

Cultivating outside was much more efficient than in the city.

Of course, the Golden Mist Technique was of too low a grade; even outside, he couldn’t hope to refine a single kilocalorie of vital force in one night.

Still, it was better than nothing. With nothing else to do, he refined his vital force slowly while also tempering his “Protective Qi.”

For professional martial artists, “Protective Qi” was just that—a defensive shield.

However, once vital force surpassed a thousand kilocalories and one became a master, “Protective Qi” gained new functions; the “protective” aspect could be turned to “offensive.”

In other words, Qi could then be projected outward, enhancing weapons or fists for greater destructive power.

The system could increase his vital force, but it didn’t teach Tang Mubai how to wield “Qi.”

That was something Tang Mubai had to figure out on his own.

For this reason, he familiarized himself with “Qi” in advance. Mindful of the others nearby, he didn’t let his “Protective Qi” manifest, only tempered it quietly within.

The process was tedious, and gradually Tang Mubai became absorbed in it.

But then, in a sudden jolt, Tang Mubai snapped awake!

In that instant, a formless sense of danger surged into his mind.

Even fully alert, he felt as if whispers filled his ears, and a strange, obscure, unsettling aura lingered all around him.

“What…”

“Ah!”

“Ah!!”

“Stay away!!!”

Suddenly, a series of screams shattered the silence of the Safe Bastion.

Those who had been sleeping rushed out of the vehicles, looking terrified and disoriented.

“Pfft—”

“Ugh!”

Those meditating outside began coughing up blood, collapsing to the ground, faces deathly pale and bodies trembling uncontrollably.

Even Lin Huafeng slid down against the wall, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

“Uncle Lin, are you alright?” Tang Mubai suppressed his own alarm and hurried to support Lin Huafeng, concern in his voice.

“I’m… I’m fine,” Lin Huafeng gasped, shaking his head. “Just a momentary loss of control, nothing serious.”

“Loss of control?” Tang Mubai was taken aback. “All of you lost control at the same time?”

“We had nightmares!” Pei Feng, drenched in sweat and pale as death, interjected. “I dreamt that a long-armed ape pierced my skull with one swipe!”

“I was swallowed whole by a ‘Rift Earth Demon Worm.’”

“I… I saw my father…”

“There’s something wrong here! Seriously wrong!”

The group began to share their dreams, one after another, each face shadowed with lingering fear.

This was the first time Tang Mubai had encountered such a situation, and he was at a loss.

Yang Kai, still shaken from his nightmare, stood there pale and bewildered.

“W-what exactly happened?” he stammered, his voice trembling.

“I have some idea,” Lin Huafeng said, steadying his breath, his tone grave.

“Really, Uncle Lin? You know?” Tang Mubai asked, hope lighting his eyes.

The others turned to Lin Huafeng as well.

“I’m only half sure,” Lin Huafeng exhaled heavily, his expression serious. “If I’m not mistaken, what happened just now was an invasion of demonic energy!”

“Demonic energy?”

“Demons?!”

“Captain, are you saying a demon was here in this bastion before?”

The group erupted at his words—some in disbelief, others in outright shock.

Even Yang Kai was terrified.

No matter how little he paid attention to the outside world, he knew how dreadful demons were.

Unlike beastmen, giant insects, or other non-human creatures, the appearance of a demon almost always meant death.

Most demons were formless.

No matter how fierce your guns or powerful your missiles, if the demon had no physical body, hitting it or missing made no difference. How could you fight that?

Tang Mubai felt the same. He’d heard tales of demons’ terror, but never imagined his first expedition beyond the domain would have him encounter one.

Even though it wasn’t an actual demon, just residual demonic energy, it had nearly sent their entire group to their ancestors.

…